AOA signs collaboration agreement with Expo Shanghai

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An agreement for the collaboration between the Chilean Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo and the AOA was subscribed today by the chairman of the Asociación de Oficinas de Arquitectos (AOA), Patrick Turner, and Hernán Somerville, the Commissioner General for Chile at the 2010 version of this universal exposition.

The agreement engages the AOA to promote our country's pavilion and Chilean participation in the event, which will be focused on the cities and the life quality of their inhabitants.

"Participation at the Shanghai Expo is a gigantic leap in the relationships between Chile and China", said Patrick Turner, chairman of the AOA. "Thus, the AOA considered it had to commit itself to collaborate and show the best of Chilean architecture to China and the whole world."

"We are very pleased with AOA's sponsorship", expressed Hernán Somerville. "This Association already has an Office in Beijing, which is active and is developing businesses in China with the support of the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO). The Pavilion is a support to that already existing public-private association and a new drive for visionary professionals whose works bear the name of Chile," he said.

The AOA will send a delegation of approximately 30 architects to the Shanghai Expo, who will participate in different activities in the Chilean Pavilion during July 5, 6 and 7, including talks, seminars and meetings with Chinese authorities.
The earthquake that affected our country on February last, and the way in which Chilean architecture behaved during the catastrophe will be one of the main issues to be dealt with by Chilean professionals. In China, a country that has been affected by some of the most damaging earthquakes in history, the positive behavior of buildings in our country has been followed with special interest.

The AOA will also highlight the reconstruction plans that some 60 associated offices have initiated, free of charge, to reconstruct houses, schools, outpatient facilities, public buildings and, in general, all those areas in which local authorities have requested help.

In some of these plans, work is being done together with other institutions, such as the Municipality of Lo Barnechea, in the reconstruction of Isla Juan Fernández, and Antofagasta Minerals, in the reconstruction of Curepto and the Maule fishing bays. In addition, emphasis will be placed on the work that is being carried out with businessman Lázaro Calderón who, entrusted by the Teletón, requested the Association to participate in the item of modular schools that will be brought from the United States.